Patrice Johnson Becomes New Muskegon Heights Mayor Pro Tem

The new mayor pro tem of Muskegon Heights is the city council’s youngest member.

Patrice Johnson received the distinction at Tuesday’s full council meeting.

Council members in Muskegon Heights serve four year terms, with elections of three at a time every other year. Of the three council members elected, or re-elected, the top two vote recipients each serve in the role for a year before the other three council members face the ballot.

In 2011, Johnson received the second most votes for the three available seats, led by incumbent Kimberly Sims, who served as pro tem last year. Councilman Vernonell Smith came in third, beating out other candidates including longtime incumbent Dorothy Scott.

Johnson will serve in the role of pro tem until after next year’s election. It is not clear at this time if the council members up for re-election in 2013, Bonnie McGlothin, Keith Guy and Willie Watson, will again seek office.

Johnson graduated from Michigan State University in 2011 and currently works for the Community Foundation of Muskegon County.

While the mayor is the leader of council proceedings, the mayor pro tem leads the official business of the council in absence of the mayor, and can sometimes act as a representative for the mayor’s office.